Lifting apparatus for outboard motors

ABSTRACT

An outboard motor is conventionally supported to swing on vertical and horizontal axes. A pressure fluid cylinder and piston is arranged between the motor and the support which carries it. A latch device is likewise provided between the motor and support which automatically locks them together when the motor is in normal operating position. However, the latch device is automatically released via a lost motion device when the cylinder is initially pressurized. Continued pressurization raises the motor through takeup of lost motion in the device, for operation in shallow water or for any other purpose.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Siegfried Braun;

0 0 3,136,287 6/1964 fi mz n m l-rnany 3,452,704 7/1969 Watkins AppLNo. 826,100

22 Filed May 20, 1969 FOREIGN PATENTS [45] Patented May 11 1971 1,383,032 11/1964 France [73] Assignee Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Aktiengesellschaft, Friedrichshaten, Assistant ExaminerCarl A. Rutledge Postfach, Germany Attorney-Albert M. Zalkind [32] Priority Jan. 8, 1969 [33] Germany [31] P 19 00 710.4

54 LIFTING APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS ABSTRACT: An outboard motor iS conventionally supported to swing on vertical and horizontal axes. A pressure fluid cylinder and piston is arranged between the motor and the 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

support which carries it. A latch device is likewise provided between the motor and support which automatically locks them together when the motor is in normal operating position.

However, the latch device is automatically released via a lost motion device when the cylinder is initially pressurized. Continued pressurization raises the motor through takeup of lost motion in the device, for operation in shallow water or for any other purpose.

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' INVENTORS:

Siegfried Braun Heinz 'Hieber A TTORNE Y:

PATENTEDHAYHISYI Y Y Y 1,577,953

snmaurz JNVENTORS:

Siegfried Braun Heinz Hieber ATTORNEY:

LIFIING APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS The prior art provides latches or locks between the supporting mount and an outboard motor which are automatically released when the motor is raised. However, such prior art devices are operable to lock the motor only in response to reverse gear selection of the motor transmission, and raising of the motor by horizontal swinging on its mount is possible only when the transmission is in neutral or forward gear. The latch can be released only at such times and such arrangements are relatively complex and expensive.

The present invention provides a pressure cylinder and latch combination such that there is no dependence on gear selection of the transmission and wherein the latch is initially and automatically released upon pressurizing the cylinder and the motor then raised subsequent to latch release upon continued pressurization.

Several modifications are disclosed herein for achieving the purpose of the invention. One such modification has the piston of the pressure cylinder pivoted to the motor while the opposite end of the cylinder is provided with an abutment engageable with a latch element pivoted to the motor and having a notch that locks a pin carried by the motor mount. The pin protrudes through a slotted ear and a tension spring normally maintains the locked condition of notch and pin. Pressurizing the cylinder causes bodily motion of the cylinder effected by the slot and pin connection by a camming action which effects engagement of the abutment with the latch element to push it out of locking engagement.

Other modifications likewise effect initial bodily motion of the pressure cylinder which through the intermediary of lever systems rock'the latch element out of locking engagement.

In all modifications continued pressurizing of the cylinder effects raising of the motor subsequent to latch release.

A detailed description of the invention now follows in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation of one form of the invention shown in cross section and associated with an outboard motor housing and mount meansin solid lines;

FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the arrangement, and,

FIG. 3 illustrates a further modification.

All FIGS. of the drawing are generally fragmentary insofar as conventional structure is concerned.

Referring to FIG. 1, a boat transom l is illustrated which will be understood to support a mount means 4 for the housing means of outboard motor means 2 which could be a complete unit or the driving gear for an inboard engine, the lower end of which has the usual propeller.

For convenience, the term motor" will be used to designate the unit to be manipulated by the invention in this description. The motor 2 is secured as by the pivot pin 6 to the mount means 4 and it will be understood that it can thus be raised by swinging in a clockwise direction about the pin 6, in the usual manner or that it can be swung for steering purposes on a vertical axis as by the hand lever 5, being supported for such swinging movement in the usual manner as by the pintle arrangement P of conventional construction.

A raising device 11 is provided having a pressure cylinder member 13 and a piston 12 integral axially with the piston rod member 17 which is pivoted by the pivot pin 16 to the housing means as shown. The piston is sealed for sliding movement by the packing 18 and the cylinder hasa pressure chamber 14 pressurized via a flexible tube in any conventional manner from a pressure source not shown in the drawing. The other end of the cylinder member has elements comprising a latching arrangement 21.

The latching arrangement comprises a latch device 26 in the fonn of a bar pivoted by apin 27.to the housing means and having a notch normally lockingly engageable with a pin 24 carried by mount means 4 as shown in FIG. I.

The pin 24 serves as a cam pin which effects the downward movement of the cylinder member around the axis of pin 6 and also serves as a latch locking pin. The locked position of latchdevice 26 is maintained by the tension spring 29, extending between a point on the motor and the end of the latch device 26.

An car 22 integral with the cylinder member is provided with a cam slot 23 disposed at a suitable camming angle relative to the cylinder member axis so that upon pressurizing of the cylinder member it will be initially actuated away from the piston in a generally downward direction toward the left (as seen on FIG; 1) by virtue of the camming reaction of pin 24 against a long edge of the slot 23. The arrangement of elements 22, 23', 24 is a moveable connector device between the cylinder member and the mount which effects latch release before the motor is raised by permitting initial movement of the cylinder member, the initial movement being limited by the length of the slot, and, in effect, a lost motion means.

The cylinder member is provided with an abutment 25 which has a camming action on a pin 28 carried by the latch device so that upon initial downward motion to a very slight extent of the closed end of the closed end of the cylinder member the engagement of the abutment 25 with the pin 28 pushes the latch device downwardly to latch released position wherein the notch is free of pin 24. This releasing movement occurs upon initial pressurizing and continued pressurizing causes the piston rod member 17 to move outward, upon the upper end of slot 23 abutting pin 24, swinging the motor in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 6. The cylinder member remains in relatively the same position as it was after the initial movement it had to release the latch device and thus holds the latch device out of engagement with pin 24 for as long as pressure is maintained. However, upon release of pressure, the motor swings clockwise of its own weight, pushing the piston back into the cylinder until ultimately the condition of FIG. 1 is restored and spring 29 once more effects latching.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a raising device 32 has a cylinder member 31 pivotally secured at one end by a pivot pin 42 carried by the mount means 4 and the piston rod 33, which will be understood to be motivated upon pressurizing the cylinder member via tube 43, is pivoted by pin 37 to the center of a link 34 which is the moveable con nector device in this modification. The upper end of link 34 is pivotally secured by pin 36 to the motor and is fastened by pivot pin 38 at its lower end to a second link 35, the other end of which is pivoted by a pin 39 to the latch device 40. The latch device is pivoted by pin 41 to the motor and is provided with a notch engaged with the same pin 42 that pivotally secures the end of the cylinder member.

Upon pressurization, piston rod 33 moves outwardly, swinging link 34 counterclockwise, and pulling link 35 which causes a counterclockwise rocking of latch device 40 about pin 41. This moves the latch device notch to release pin 42. Continued pressurization extends rod 33 until the relative motion permitted between link 35 and the latch device '40 reaches the limit, for example, when they are aligned, and then the rod exerts apull via link 34 through link 35 and latch device 40 to pin 41 to raise the motor.

Thus the linkage system effects a lost motion means for initial actuation and latch release.

When pressure is released from the cylinder member, the weight of the motor acts through the linkage effected between links 34,35 and the latch .device 40 to return the motor to the position shown in FIG. 2 and the locked condition is automatically restored.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 the raising device 52 comprises the cylinder member 51, and its piston rod 53, wherein the rod is pivoted as by pin 56 to a link 54, in turn pivoted as by piri 55 to the motor. Link 54 is the moveable connector device in the modification of FIG. 3. Another link is the bent rod 57 having an end 58 pivoted to the pin 56 and extending generally parallel to the cylinder axis, and having a short angled end portion 59 pivoted by pin 62 to the latch device 60 in turn pivoted by pin 61 to the motor. The motor is pivoted on pin 63 to the mount 4, which pin is also the locking pin for the notch in latch device 60.

In operation, upon initial pressurizing of the cylinder member, piston rod 53 moves outwardly, swinging the link 54 counterclockwise and pulling link 57 which rocks latch device 60 counterclockwise to release position. Continued pressurization raises the motor.

The action is very similar to that described in H0. 2, except that a change in pivot points results in a lever system that is somewhat more compact in FIG. 3.

In either case, release of pressure will permit the motor to descend of its own weight to restore the locked condition, while initial pressurization acts through a lost motion means provided by the linkage system to effect latch release.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention automatically locks or releases an outboard motor independently of gear selection and is responsive only to pressurization of the raising cylinder. It will, of course, be realized that the disclosure is applicable to motors having selflcontained engines or to the so-called inboard-outboard type wherein only the gearing is in an outboard housing means. Also, persons skilled in the art will understand that the invention can be practiced with a reversal of parts. For example, the cylinder member and piston rod could be oppositely attached, and the latch device could as well be carried by the motor mount to engage a motor carried pin. Accordingly, the claims presented herein, where not specific to the illustrations given, are intended to bring within their scope obvious parts reversals to an extent justified by the novelty of the invention.

We claim:

1. The combination of an outboard motor means 2 and a mount means 4 therefor with a pivotal connection 6 therebetween to permit raising of said motor means when said mount means is secured to a boat transom; a pressure cylinder member 13; 31; 51 with a piston having a rod member; a moveable connector device 2224; 34; 54 between one 13; 33; 53 of said members and one 4, 2, 2 of said means actuated upon pressurizing of said cylinder member;

a latch device 26; 40; 60 positioned to normally latch said two means 2; 4 to each other and operably related to said moveable connector device, whereby, upon initial actuation of said connector device said latch device is moved into a release position;

the other member 17; 31; 51 being pivotally secured to the other means 2; 4; 4 whereby continued pressurizing of said cylinder member effects raising of said motor means relative to said mount means.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, said moveable connector device comprising on ear 22 having a cam slot and integral with said cylinder member;

a latch pin 24 carried by said mount means protruding into said slot wherein said slot has an edge at a camming angle relative to the axis of said cylinder member to effect movement thereof by camming reaction with said latch pin; bias means 29 normally effecting latching of said latch device with said latch pin an abutment 25 carried by said cylinder member engageable with said latch device to drive said latch device to release position relative to said latch pin responsive to initial movement of said cylinder members effected by said camming reaction.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, the moveable connector device compressing a link 34; 54 having a pivotal connection with one of said means 2 and with one of said members 33; 53;

another link 35; 57 having pivotal connection with said latch device 40; 60 and with said first mentioned link 34; 54 said latch device being pivotally supported on the said last mentioned means 2; the other means 4 having a latch pin 42; 63 normally engaging said latch device; an end of said cylinder member being pivoted to the last mentioned means 4; whereby initial pressurizing of said cylinder member actuates said links to rock said latch device out of engagement to a release position and continued pressurizing is operalive through said links and latch device to exert a raising force on said motor means; said links and said latch device being operative to restore latching engagement by the motivating weight of said means upon release of pressure from said cylinder member. 4. A combination as set forth in claim 1, said rod member having a pivotal connection to said motor means and said cylinder member terminating in an ear having a cam slot;

said mount means having a pin extending into said cam slot whereby pressurizing said cylinder member effects a rocking movement thereof by reaction of said pin against an edge of said cam slot;

said latch device being pivotally connected to said housing means and having a notch engageable with said pin; means for effecting said engagement comprising a spring; and means actuated responsive to said rocking movement to effect a disengaging thrust on said latch device to release position. 5. A combination as set forth in claim 1, said cylinder member 31; 51 having a pivotal connecting pin 42; 63 with said mounting means 4;

a first lever 34; 54 pivotally connected to said motor means a second lever 35; 57 pivotally connected to said first lever;

said rod 33; 53 member being pivotally connected to said first lever 34; 54;

said second lever 35; 57 being pivotally connected to said latch device 40; 60;

said latch device being pivotally carried by said motor means and having a notch pivotally engageable with said connecting pin 42; 63 and pivotally disengageable therefrom by relative pivotal movement of said levers and said cylinder member upon initial pressurizing of said cylinder member.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5, said rod member being pivotally connected to said first lever intermediate the pivotal connections thereof to said housing means and said second lever.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5, said second lever having a common pivotal connection with said rod member and said first lever;

and being pivotally connected to said latch device intermediate the notch thereof and the pivotal connection thereof with said motor means.

8. An outboard motor locking and raising device comprising a pressure cylinder member having a piston rod member and means for connecting said cylinder member and rod member between a motor mount and a motor pivoted thereto; comprising a lost motion device connected to one of said members actuatable upon initial pressurization of the cylinder member and said device being moveable to a predetermined limit during such initial pressurization; a latch operative to lock said motor and mount and disposed and connected to be operable to a release position by movement of said lost motion device; wherein continued pressurization of said cylinder member effects take up of lost motion and effects raising of said motor through said lost motion device. 

1. The combination of an outboard motor means 2 and a mount means 4 therefor with a pivotal connection 6 therebetween to permit raising of said motor means when said mount means is secured to a boat transom; a pressure cylinder member 13; 31; 51 with a piston having a rod member; a moveable connector device 22-24; 34; 54 between one 13; 33; 53 of said members and one 4, 2, 2 of said means actuated upon pressurizing of said cylinder member; a latch device 26; 40; 60 positioned to normally latch said two means 2; 4 to each other and operably related to said moveable connector device, whereby, upon initial actuation of said connector device said latch device is moved into a release position; the other member 17; 31; 51 being pivotally secured to the other means 2; 4; 4 whereby continued pressurizing of said cYlinder member effects raising of said motor means relative to said mount means.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1, said moveable connector device comprising on ear 22 having a cam slot and integral with said cylinder member; a latch pin 24 carried by said mount means protruding into said slot wherein said slot has an edge at a camming angle relative to the axis of said cylinder member to effect movement thereof by camming reaction with said latch pin; bias means 29 normally effecting latching of said latch device with said latch pin an abutment 25 carried by said cylinder member engageable with said latch device to drive said latch device to release position relative to said latch pin responsive to initial movement of said cylinder members effected by said camming reaction.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1, the moveable connector device compressing a link 34; 54 having a pivotal connection with one of said means 2 and with one of said members 33; 53; another link 35; 57 having pivotal connection with said latch device 40; 60 and with said first mentioned link 34; 54 said latch device being pivotally supported on the said last mentioned means 2; the other means 4 having a latch pin 42; 63 normally engaging said latch device; an end of said cylinder member being pivoted to the last mentioned means 4; whereby initial pressurizing of said cylinder member actuates said links to rock said latch device out of engagement to a release position and continued pressurizing is operative through said links and latch device to exert a raising force on said motor means; said links and said latch device being operative to restore latching engagement by the motivating weight of said means upon release of pressure from said cylinder member.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 1, said rod member having a pivotal connection to said motor means and said cylinder member terminating in an ear having a cam slot; said mount means having a pin extending into said cam slot whereby pressurizing said cylinder member effects a rocking movement thereof by reaction of said pin against an edge of said cam slot; said latch device being pivotally connected to said housing means and having a notch engageable with said pin; means for effecting said engagement comprising a spring; and means actuated responsive to said rocking movement to effect a disengaging thrust on said latch device to release position.
 5. A combination as set forth in claim 1, said cylinder member 31; 51 having a pivotal connecting pin 42; 63 with said mounting means 4; a first lever 34; 54 pivotally connected to said motor means 2; a second lever 35; 57 pivotally connected to said first lever; said rod 33; 53 member being pivotally connected to said first lever 34; 54; said second lever 35; 57 being pivotally connected to said latch device 40; 60; said latch device being pivotally carried by said motor means and having a notch pivotally engageable with said connecting pin 42; 63 and pivotally disengageable therefrom by relative pivotal movement of said levers and said cylinder member upon initial pressurizing of said cylinder member.
 6. A combination as set forth in claim 5, said rod member being pivotally connected to said first lever intermediate the pivotal connections thereof to said housing means and said second lever.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 5, said second lever having a common pivotal connection with said rod member and said first lever; and being pivotally connected to said latch device intermediate the notch thereof and the pivotal connection thereof with said motor means.
 8. An outboard motor locking and raising device comprising a pressure cylinder member having a piston rod member and means for connecting said cylinder member and rod member between a motor mount and a motor pivoted thereto; comprising a lost motion device connected to one of said members actuatable upon initial pressurization of the cylinder member and said device being moveable to a predetermined limit during such initial pressurization; a latch operative to lock said motor and mount and disposed and connected to be operable to a release position by movement of said lost motion device; wherein continued pressurization of said cylinder member effects take up of lost motion and effects raising of said motor through said lost motion device. 